This week we had a critique session in class- we passed around our sketches that we’ve done and ask them to pick the ones that they think works the best.

I played a lot with positive-negative space as well as perspective because to me happiness is multi layered and quite complex. Sure, things that make you happy can be simple, but I find the reason to the happiness is quite inexplicable by words.

So far, my sketches have been received as quite too overwhelming to portray “security”. It was also suggested to change the word security into being secure, at ease, so that it doesn’t give the impression of “security guard”. Out of all the sketches, these are the 2 that were picked out by the lecturer for me to develop again, with the suggested idea of making an infinity sign, symbolising an indefinite happiness.

I thought of it and decided on a broken infinity symbol- made of S with a diagonal line drawn across it- because ultimately life isn’t about infinite happiness, there’s no such thing – it’s more on the way people view life, and their way in handling problems that arises that can make them happy or not.

Another idea that arose was to have a dice with the writing “be secure” engraved on its sides, with a trail of imprint (like ink stamped) that says “Happiness”. Stamp / imprint can be associated to certainty and being secure emotionally (from the inside) means being self-certain, so. This is an attempt in simplifying the look of the poster, so that it doesn’t look too complicated.

These sketches focus more on contrasting the fluctuating movement of happiness and stability of being secure.

This one focuses on the form of the S – some the particles are curved inwards to make it feel protective while some curves outwards and going out of the space to represent the emotions of being happy. So the “secure” isn’t confining nor overprotective, it’s just comfortable and happy.

27/8/2016

Did some sketches digitally on Photoshop.

I started out with writing the(my) whole definition of happiness “happiness is being secure inside out” and then I decided it looks too diverse and I have to simplify it. I decided to take the words “happiness inside out” only, while still pretty much maintaining the same concept of being happy is to feel secure enough to be who you are (from the inside) and show it to the world. It involves self expression, discovering self identity and being self certain, which I think are important issues to young adults who generally start overthinking about who they are and what they want to do in life. The placement of the words “happiness” and “inside out” makes it look like an opening to something else.

These digital sketches are so different than what I sketched out on paper, with the exception of the imagery of an opening (to give the inside and outside dimension on the poster). I definitely toned down a lot of the complexity in the look of the poster as well as the message that I’m trying to send behind the “security” and “inside out” concept. I was afraid that simplicity would be boring and not experimental enough but at the end of the day I think no matter it looks simple or complicated, the important part is to get the message across to the audience. If complex doesn’t work, then maybe simple does. I’ll be fixing the handwritings so they’ll look neater and re-adjust the colour.

Feedback:

-tidy up the handwriting

-make the writing “inside” looks prettier

28/06/2016

I decided to keep the peach pink backdrop because I want to represent it as the outer exterior people often paint themselves- as a nice, polite person and nothing else, because that’s what the world expects of them. To be truly happy, sometimes you have to rip that off and show the world who you are.

The color gradient (blue-yellow) and the movement (down to up) suggests that it may not always start off all bright and sunshine, but when time allows (and it will), you’ll eventually find happiness in your life.